Seventeen years ago, when I first started in the home care business, I could never have imagined the challenges and triumphs that lay ahead. Through the ups and downs, alongside my two adult daughters, Sarah and Laura, our mission has always remained the same—providing the best care possible for the seniors who rely on us. The journey has been one of resilience, love, and adaptation, but nothing could have prepared us for the back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, that hit within two weeks of each other this year.
Family and Community at the Heart of Our Mission
My daughters have been integral to our journey at Home Helpers of Clearwater. Their support, energy, and shared passion for caregiving have helped us navigate this unpredictable field. Together, we have built a home care service that feels like an extended family, where each client is treated with the care and respect they deserve.
In Florida—the land of paradise—many seniors retire to enjoy the beautiful weather and scenic views, but often they leave behind most of their families. This means they rely on us, not just for regular care, but for essential support during crises like hurricanes. For many of our clients, we are their only lifeline in moments when they need someone most.
Coaching and Guidance: Growth and Resilience
Our success and resilience are also deeply connected to the support and guidance we’ve received from Home Care Evolution. Through individual coaching, online training, and becoming part of the Home Care Evolution Elite Academy, we’ve gained invaluable skills that allow us to consistently improve our services. With Steve “The Hurricane” and Kelly Szwed’s guidance, our business has experienced growth year over year. This coaching has equipped us with the best practices to navigate the daily complexities of home care and the extraordinary challenges that come with natural disasters.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton: A Test of Preparedness
This year, we faced two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton, within a matter of weeks. Many of our clients were evacuated, and we quickly realized that our priority had to be the safety of both our clients and caregivers. When you’re responsible for caring for vulnerable seniors, being prepared and having a solid plan in place is crucial to the success of our mission. Whether it’s anticipating storms like Helene and Milton or managing daily health challenges, planning ahead ensures that both our clients and caregivers are safe and supported.
Our staffing coordinator and team immediately sprang into action, calling each client to assess their needs. Were they in a safe place? Did they need to evacuate? If they were staying in place, did they have enough supplies? Were they prepared for the inevitable power outages? These were critical questions to answer, as many of our clients don’t have nearby family members to help them in such situations.
Once we understood the needs of our clients, the team contacted each caregiver to ensure they were prepared as well. Were they evacuating? Did they have supplies? Were they following all emergency protocols? Our next task was determining which caregivers would be able to continue providing care, particularly for our 24/7 clients who required constant support, even during a hurricane.
Essential Steps for Disaster Preparedness in Florida
As part of our commitment to preparedness, we follow several key steps to meet the guidelines set by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA):
- Create and Maintain a Comprehensive Emergency Plan: This includes clear evacuation protocols, communication strategies, and detailed contingency plans to ensure all clients and caregivers know what to do in case of disaster.
- Assess Client Needs and Supplies: Before a potential disaster, we check in with all clients to assess their evacuation needs, ensure they have enough medical supplies, and verify that they have a secure location to stay.
- Secure Transportation and Shelter Arrangements: We work with local shelters to confirm available spaces for clients who may need to evacuate. Additionally, we arrange for transportation in cases where clients cannot travel independently.
- Staff Preparedness and Emergency Protocols: All caregivers receive training on emergency procedures, including what to pack for clients during evacuation and how to handle power outages safely.
- Communicate with Local Authorities: We keep local authorities informed about our clients’ locations and any special needs they may have, ensuring that emergency responders have a clear picture of where help may be needed.
In home care, being prepared and having a solid plan in place is crucial to our success in caring for others. Whether it’s anticipating storms like Helene and Milton or managing daily health challenges, planning ahead ensures that both our clients and caregivers are safe and supported. Preparation allows us to respond quickly and effectively to unpredictable events, which is the key to delivering the best care possible.
Timing and Coordination
Timing was everything. With the storms approaching, we had to ensure that all 24/7 caregivers were in a safe place when the hurricanes hit. Many of our caregivers volunteered to stay through the storms with their clients, displaying a level of dedication that still fills me with gratitude.
As the storms approached, it was crucial to align the timing—making sure caregivers were able to travel to and from their clients before the weather made it impossible. We coordinated as best we could, ensuring that no one was left in a vulnerable position.
The Aftermath: Real Work Begins
Once the hurricanes passed, the real work began. We had to figure out which caregivers could get out of their homes. Many had been impacted by downed power lines, flooding, and debris. Some were trapped in their neighborhoods, while others had homes that were damaged. Despite losing hours to the chaos, we were incredibly fortunate not to lose a single client or caregiver during the storms.
As I write this, we are still in recovery mode, but the events of the past few weeks have taught me that no matter how much we prepare, nothing can fully brace us for the impact of a natural disaster. Whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or earthquakes, preparedness is the key to navigating the unexpected, especially when caring for vulnerable seniors.
A Continued Commitment to Care
In the aftermath of Helene and Milton, our mission remains clear: we are here to provide the best care possible, no matter the circumstances. These storms may have tested us, but they also reaffirmed the strength of our team and the resilience of our clients and caregivers. At Home Helpers, we know that every day brings new challenges, but with preparation, communication, and a heart full of compassion, we can overcome anything.
Our journey in home care has been full of unexpected twists, but with my daughters by my side, the guidance from Home Care Evolution, a dedicated team and our caregivers, I am confident we will continue to weather any storm that comes our way. This is the work we are called to do, and we’ll always be prepared—whether it’s for the everyday or the extraordinary.